Janet harks back to the notorious Bullingdon Club photograph featuring both Cameron and Boris Johnson which she believes smacked not just of arrogance but also a hint of "smug cruelty". She warns the Tory Leader to be wary of cultivating that kind of image by dealing too brutally with Gordon Brown at the dispatch box each week. Recent encounters between the two have rather resembled a cat toying with a trapped mouse.

Janet's column triggered an immense response online – the majority of comments unsympathetic. It's the duty of the leader of Her Majesty's Opposition to "go for the jugular" was the general thrust.

The theme has now been taken up by the BBC's James Landale. He argues that given the hammering that the Tories took from New Labour during the Major years, it would take enormous forbearance not to return it, with interest, now they have a chance. But James also has reservations about the wisdom of the strategy, on the grounds it will alienate voters who don't like yah-boo politics and will be tempted to respond by saying "a plague on all your houses".

I'm not so sure. It is the Opposition's job to oppose and there are a lot of anti-Brown voters who will relish the fact that the Prime Minister is getting a tough time. And does a man who has clawed his way to the top of British politics really need protection? That sounds pretty patronising to me. Gordon Brown can look after himself. If he has no appetite for the fight, he should find another job.